Shane Watson knows better than to weigh into selection debates.
But Watson also knows just how well Usman Khawaja has recently been batting, having watched his Sydney Thunder teammate monster attacks throughout the Big Bash League.
Watson was reluctant to comment on Khawaja being overlooked for the the ongoing Twenty20 series against India and upcoming ODI tour of New Zealand.
But the 34-year-old could hardly have been more effusive in his praise for Khawaja on Thursday.
"It's as good as I've ever seen anyone bat," Watson said on the eve of Friday night's T20 clash at the MCG.
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It's lofty praise given Watson has played with and against some of the world's best batsmen over the past 15 years.
"I've been very fortunate throughout my career to see a lot of great players play," the allrounder said.
"How he's batting and how he has batted, it's as good as I've ever seen."
Khawaja is still very much in the mix for Australia's 15-man T20 World Cup squad despite the snub.
The 29-year-old posted Test centuries in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne this summer.
Knocks of 109no, 62, 104no and 70 in the BBL also left a big impression on Watson, who watched many of them from the non-striker's end.
"It was incredible to think someone was able to score so quickly and it looked like he wasn't even taking a risk," Watson said.
"Just hitting the ball wherever he wanted.
"Wherever the fielders were, he wasn't hitting it anywhere near them.
"And he did it every game he played for the Thunder against good quality bowling."
Khawaja and Joe Burns will have no local tune-up in New Zealand prior to the two-Test series in February.
The pair will play for Queensland in Adelaide before travelling to Wellington for the first Test.
